When it comes to Pioneer AV receivers, there are 2 groups and one of them will be the Elite series which are the higher-end models. These high-end Pioneer Elite AV receivers use premium internal components and have high sound quality catering to audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts who want only the very best. In order to achieve this, you will need equally remarkable speakers to pair with the Elite receivers so to ensure they will sound their absolute best.
The Pioneer Elite AV receivers use Class D3 amplification which is more efficient than Class AB amps as they consume less energy and give out lesser heat. More importantly, the Digital Class D3 amplifier is aimed at providing unmatched power without compromising sonic performance and is still able to deliver a high level of sound quality. It also provides a cleaner sound reproduction with lesser distortion and noise.
We now understand that the Pioneer Elite receivers are designed and made to provide the best possible sound quality that they can muster but how about the speakers required to do so. There is a sea of potential speaker choices and we just can’t grab any speakers off the shelves. In order to find the right speakers for yourself, we will need to go through a few things and once we are done with that, we will be sharing with you the best speakers which you can go for so as to pair them with your Pioneer Elite receivers.
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What Are Your Speakers Requirements and Needs
The very first thing to work out for yourself will be the budget you have set aside to purchase home theater speakers. You will also need to include the budget for purchasing 1 or 2 active subwoofers which are very important as they are not only capable of producing very deep bass frequencies with prominence but also help to ease some load off the AVR by taking over the bass reproduction role which can be power demanding. Allowing the Pioneer Elite AV receiver to focus more of its efforts on driving the speakers to produce higher frequencies.
If you are planning to set up a home theater system to play your movies using the latest 3D audio format such as Dolby Atmos. Then you will need speakers which are either Dolby Atmos enabled or use in-ceiling speakers as overhead channels. Whether you use your Pioneer Elite AV receiver to play music will also influence what type of speakers you should get especially if you are critical about the music listening experience. You might want to go for speakers that are more musical-sounding and refined.
More Details at Amazon – Pioneer VSX-LX303 9.2 Channel 4k UltraHD A/V Receiver
If the music listening experience is really important for you then you might want to invest in a pair of higher quality stereo speakers. Sometimes, your Pioneer Elite receiver might not be able to fully drive the front mains, especially at high volumes. This is where you can invest in external power amplifiers to drive the front main channel left and right speakers but the AVR must have Pre-outs though. Additional power amps will be an added cost for you and will affect the budget you have left for your speakers’ purchase. This is also why we tend not to go for speakers which are difficult to drive as AV receivers are not really cut out to power such speakers.
Which brand of speakers you have been using till this day will also affect your speaker choices as you probably will be too used to their sound signatures. You will need to find out if you prefer warm, neutral, or bright-sounding speakers as well. It will be safer to stick with the same speaker brand that you have been using as they usually share similar sonic characteristics which your ears are already used to hearing. It is still fine to go for other speaker brands as exploration can be a fun process, you’ll just need to audition them first before making the final decision.
How big is your listening room and if you are facing any space constraints will also influence the types of speakers you can get. For instance, if your home theater room has limited space, you’ll probably need to go for compact size speakers. If your listening room is large, then compact size speakers might not cut it as they are unable to fill the room with sound easily. These are some of the main criteria you might want to seriously consider, they are also other things to consider such as spouse approval, aesthetics, power outputs of your AVR, and more. We will be sharing with you now the best speakers that you can go for and pair them with your Pioneer Elite AV receiver.
Best Speakers to pair with Pioneer Elite AV receiver
The Q Acoustics 3000i 5.1 (3050i) home theater speaker package is one of the very best on the market and has the sound quality to match with the prestigious Pioneer Elite AV receivers. The musicality of this HT speaker package is amazing as well, it is able to deliver a very detailed music presentation with refinement and engages you with snappy timings. The bass performance is detailed, rich, and punchy which also makes the Q Acoustics 3000i 5.1 (3050i) pack an excellent choice when it comes to home theater performance. At this price point, they are worth every penny and are well-matched to your Pioneer Elite receiver.
More Information at Amazon – Q Acoustics 3000i 5.1 (3050i)
The KEF Q350 5.1 system is another high-end home cinema speaker pack that is a suitable match with the Pioneer Elite receiver. The KEF Q350 itself is an award-winning bookshelf speaker that can deliver large-scale sound and can produce plenty of details. The insights and transparency of the Q350 also help with providing a rich surround sound field and the impeccable imaging of these stand-mounters provides an engaging experience. The KEF Q350 5.1 is great for both music and home theater use, they look absolutely gorgeous as well. Just to nitpick, at this price range, the subwoofer may lack a bit of impact.
More Information at Amazon – KEF Q350 Bookshelf Speakers
If you prefer an HT sound system that is easy on the ears with a hint of warmth in its sonic signature then you might want to take a look at Wharfedale Evo 4.2. These are amazing bookshelf speakers which are capable of delivering a large and deep soundstage that immerses you into the music or movie. The sweet sound quality is pleasing and smooth, with impeccable imaging, not to mention, you can enjoy a long listen without feeling listener fatigue. You can go for the matching Wharfedale Evo 4.C as the center channel speaker and connect a high-quality subwoofer to the Pioneer Elite AV receiver, and you now have an impressive HT sound system that can provide you with a very enjoyable music listening experience.
More Details at Amazon – Wharfedale EVO 4.2
If home theater performance is what really matters and your budget is quite tight then we will suggest going for SVS Prime Satellite 5.1 speaker pack. It is modestly priced and consists of a powerful sealed subwoofer SVS SB-1000. This high-performance 12″ subwoofer has 720 Watts of Peak Power enabling it to handle most bass demands. It is supported by 5 SVS Prime Satellite speakers which have a high level of clarity and can produce details in spade. You might want to add another pair of SVS Prime bookshelf speakers to be the main left and right channel speakers. The overall sound reproduction can be quite bright-sounding, we will suggest that you hear them out first.
More Information at Amazon – SVS Prime Satellite 5.1 Package
Klipsch speakers are highly efficient and lively, if you are looking for bright-sounding speakers, then you should check them out. We will suggest going with Klipsch 5.1 RP-250, which consists of 2 floor-standers RP-250F that have high speaker sensitivity and efficiency, allowing your Pioneer Elite AV receiver to drive them with ease. The surround channels will be the Klipsch RP-240S, followed by a matching center channel speaker RP-440C and an active subwoofer R-112SW. The overall energetic performance of the Klipsch 5.1 RP-250 will provide you with a lively music presentation and an exciting home cinematic experience. The level of clarity of this system is astonishing as well.
More Details at Amazon – Klipsch 5.1 RP-250 Reference Premiere Speaker Package
As mentioned earlier, you can also go for Dolby Atmos speakers such as Pioneer SP-EFS73, Klipsch R-625FA, and for a more compact size Dolby Atmos enabled speaker, you can check out Pioneer SP-EBS73-LR. There is also another option which is to go for Dolby Atmos speaker modules like the KEF Q50a, Klipsch RP-140SA, ELAC Debut 2.0 A4.2, etc. We do find that overhead speakers will provide better accuracy and sound quality but the installation of in-ceiling speakers will incur more cost though. Going with Dolby Atmos enabled speakers or modules will probably be the easiest way to set up your Atmos sound system.
More Details at Amazon – Pioneer Elite SP-EFS73 Floor Standing Speaker
More Info at Amazon – KEF Q50a Dolby Atmos Speakers
For subwoofers, you can go with brands that specialize in making high-performance active subs such as SVS, Rythmik Audio, HSU Research, and more. You can check out SVS PB-3000 an extremely powerful ported 13″ subwoofer with 2,500 Watts of Peak Power, enabling it to handle all sorts of low-frequency demands that the movie can throw at it. For music, the Rythmik Audio F12SE will be an ideal choice as it is an award-winning sealed 12″ subwoofer designed and made for audiophiles. If you are not sure whether to go for ported or sealed subs then the HSU Research VTF-15H MK2 Hybrid subwoofer will be the one for you. The hybrid tuning enables you to switch to either 16 Hz Ported, 22 Hz Ported, or Sealed, providing you with plenty of flexibility.
More Details at Amazon – SVS PB-3000 13″ Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
We hope you will be able to find the speakers that fit your requirements from this list as they are some of the best on the market. Once you have shortlisted the speakers that you are interested in getting, you might want to arrange an audition with them to have a listen. See if you like what you hear and it will be better if you could do a side-by-side comparison on the spot. To have an even more accurate result, you might want to audition these speakers in your own listening room.
